Ordinary Council Meeting - 26 October 2026

Topics

• Woollahra creates $10 million working-capital reserve while closing two funds
  Council has created a $10 million General Working Capital Reserve and closed its Capital Projects and Election Reserves.
  The change affects how Council stores, safeguards and deploys public money, including unrestricted cash and Special Rate Variation funds.
• New financial policies set Woollahra’s borrowing and debt rules
  Council adopted its Financial Sustainability Policy and Borrowing Policy after public exhibition, with four submissions received.
  The policies will shape future borrowing, debt management and long-term financial decisions.
• Woollahra trial brings specialist geotechnical scrutiny to basement developments
  Council is trialling a seconded geotechnical engineer as Rose Bay, Double Bay and Bellevue Hill face more Low- and Mid-Rise Housing development applications.
  The initiative responds to concerns about basement excavation, groundwater flows and the technical assessment of development applications.

Decisions

• Internal reserves restructured
  Council resolved to close the Capital Projects Reserve and Election Reserve from 31 October 2026 and transfer remaining balances to unrestricted cash. It also established a $10 million General Working Capital Reserve, restricted its use to expenditure authorised through the adopted budget or a Quarterly Budget Review, preserved Special Rate Variation fund allocations, authorised accounting adjustments and adopted a revised Restricted Funds Policy.
  The decision changes how Council holds and controls reserve funds and provides a $10 million working-capital buffer, while retaining restrictions on Special Rate Variation money.
• Financial Sustainability and Borrowing Policies adopted
  Council adopted the Financial Sustainability Policy and Borrowing Policy after public exhibition, noting four submissions. The proposed amendment to the Debt Service Coverage Ratio definition was not carried, and the policies were adopted without that amendment.
  These policies guide Council’s debt, borrowing and long-term financial management decisions.
• Specialist geotechnical expertise trial
  Council noted a six-month trial seconding a geotechnical engineer from a specialist engineering firm to assess development applications against Council’s controls. It authorised additional experts where necessary and requested a report after the trial. Council also noted cumulative excavation and groundwater-flow studies and several Rose Bay court matters involving geotechnical advice.
  The trial is intended to strengthen scrutiny of basement excavation, groundwater and geotechnical risks associated with development.
• Planning panel appointments renewed
  Council re-appointed Councillors Regan and Zeltzer as Sydney Eastern City Planning Panel members, with four alternate councillor members and three alternate community members, for 26 October to 31 December 2026. A further report will address the NSW Government review of district panels.
  The appointments maintain Woollahra’s representation in decisions considered by the regional planning panel.
• Heritage grants scheme advanced
  Council endorsed considering a dedicated Heritage Grants funding stream in the next Grants Policy update, scheduled for December 2027. Staff will prepare draft guidelines, eligibility criteria, funding arrangements and assessment procedures, and seek external grant funding opportunities.
  Owners and community groups seeking support for heritage conservation may become eligible for a future Council grant program, subject to later policy and funding decisions.
• December Council meeting rescheduled
  The December 2026 Ordinary Council Meeting was moved from Monday 14 December to Tuesday 15 December 2026.
  Residents planning to attend or make submissions will need to note the revised meeting date.

Discussion

• 160 Oxford Street, Paddington development
  Council noted that the Minister’s delegate granted State Significant Development consent on 24 September 2026. More than 330 community objections had raised concerns about height, bulk, scale, heritage and amenity impacts, transition to the surrounding heritage conservation area, affordable housing, excavation and parking. The source extract does not include the complete resolution.
  The decision affects a major Paddington development and records substantial community concern, but the available extract does not show the full Council response.
• Low- and mid-rise development impacts
  Council noted that several development applications, including six State Significant Development Applications, had been lodged or approved in Rose Bay under the Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy, with further applications in Double Bay and Bellevue Hill. It also noted a study into cumulative excavation and groundwater-flow impacts.
  Residents in affected suburbs may be concerned about construction, excavation, groundwater and neighbourhood impacts.
• Victoria Barracks community campaign
  Council noted an estimated turnout of more than 3,000 people at the Save Victoria Barracks Rally at Kippax Lake, Moore Park, and acknowledged community, veteran, business and political participation opposing the proposed sale of Victoria Barracks.
  The motion records local political and community concern about the future of a significant nearby public and heritage site.
• Bondi to Manly Ultra Marathon
  Council congratulated organisers, more than 4,500 participants, hundreds of volunteers and participating councils after the 24 October 2026 event, and thanked staff who supported the event as it passed through Woollahra Municipality.
  The event involved local streets, Council operations and community participation across the municipality.

Impacts

• Reserve balances and financial controls will change, including creation of a $10 million General Working Capital Reserve.
• New financial policies will guide Council’s future borrowing and long-term financial decisions.
• Development applications involving excavation and groundwater will receive additional specialist geotechnical scrutiny during a six-month trial.
• A future heritage grants stream is being prepared for consideration in December 2027; funding is not yet available.
• The December 2026 Ordinary Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday 15 December instead of Monday 14 December.
• The approved State Significant Development at 160 Oxford Street, Paddington remains a significant local planning and heritage issue following more than 330 objections.

Places

• Woollahra Municipality (local government area)
  Council’s financial, planning, grants and event-related decisions apply across the municipality.
• Rose Bay (suburb)
  Multiple Low- and Mid-Rise Housing Policy applications and geotechnical court matters were noted.
• Double Bay (suburb)
  Further Low- and Mid-Rise Housing Policy applications and excavation impacts were noted.
• Bellevue Hill (suburb)
  Further Low- and Mid-Rise Housing Policy applications were noted.
• Paddington (suburb)
  The approved State Significant Development at 160 Oxford Street was discussed.
• 160 Oxford Street (development site)
  State Significant Development consent was granted on 24 September 2026.
• Victoria Barracks (heritage and defence site)
  The proposed sale was the subject of a large community rally and Council motion.
• Kippax Lake, Moore Park (public space)
  Location of the Save Victoria Barracks Rally.

Next

• Transfer remaining balances from the Capital Projects Reserve and Election Reserve to unrestricted cash and implement the new reserve arrangements.
  Effective 31 October 2026 and following the resolution.
• Conduct the six-month geotechnical engineer secondment trial and table a post-trial report.
  Report after the six-month trial period.
• Prepare draft Heritage Grants stream guidelines, eligibility criteria, funding arrangements and assessment procedures.
  For consideration in the Grants Policy update due December 2027.
• Pursue external funding opportunities for a future heritage grants stream.
  Before the proposed December 2027 policy update.
• Provide a further report on the NSW Government review of Sydney District Panels.
  At a future Council meeting.
• Hold the rescheduled December Ordinary Council Meeting.
  Tuesday 15 December 2026.

Extract

Ordinary Council Monday, 26 October 2026 6:30 PM Minutes Unconfirmed Woollahra Municipal Council Ordinary Council 26 October 2026 Page | 2 Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes of the Meeting of Ordinary Council held at the Council Chambers, 536 New South Head Road, Double Bay, on 26 October 2026 at 6:30 PM. Present:Her Worship the Mayor, Councillor Sarah Dixson, ex-officio Councillors:Hugh Woodgate (Deputy Mayor) James Ardouin Mary-Lou Jarvis Jeanette Mitchell (via Zoom) Julian Parmegiani Harriet Price Lucinda Regan Matthew Robertson Mark Silcocks (left meeting at 8:00pm during Item 15.3, returned at 8:47pm during Item 19) Torsten Staff:Rosemary Bullmore - General Counsel (via Zoom) Jennifer Ch...